May 2009

May 30, 2009

(Photo by Reuters Pictures. Elijah Dukes can't seem to keep people focused on what happens to him ON the field.)

"Listen, Elijah is having a pretty good season. He is doing well. He is current on his child support. His wife, NiShea, will go to any length to smear him. She won't even grant a divorce. Elijah has been trying to get a divorce. All this is over attorney's fees. This is not child support. If Elijah Dukes isn't paying child support, it's a different story."(Grady Irvin, Elijah Dukes' lawyer, via Washington Post, 5/30/2009)

D.C. area Moms plan biggest bakesale ever.

On the heels of news that Elijah Dukes must pay $39,767 in legal fees for his wife's lawyers by June 5th at 5PM or head to jail for 90 days, anonymous, unnamed sources with no knowledge of the situation tell The Nationals Enquirer that Little League Moms across the DC-area will band together to raise the $39,767 for Elijah Dukes by holding the largest bake sale ever seen within the Beltway.

This, of course, will be the second time this season that Little League Moms have rushed to the aid of the chronically troubled Dukes; in April, the Great Falls Little League raised $501 to pay off the fine levied by cold-hearted Nationals Manager Manny Acta, who benched and fined his outfielder after he showed up late for work, following an appearance at a local Little League function.

And it's difficult to depend on another center fielder, Elijah Dukes (currently on the DL), because of his disruptive nature in the clubhouse. "If he were gone," one National said, "the clubhouse would be a happier place."

(AP Photo)

"There's not a great experience when you're getting roughed up, but the fact that he threw strikes, that he wasn't walking the whole ballpark, that he was still being aggressive -- that's fine with us. That is what we want him to do."(Manny Acta, via Washington Post, 5/30/2009)

MLB.com: For the first time since you arrived in Washington, the fans are not on your side. They want to see a new manager. When you hear stuff like that, what is your reaction?

Acta: My reaction is, I can't control what people think or say. The bottom line is: they want to see the team win. Everybody is on board with the rebuilding. But that being said, not too many people are patient enough to lose while rebuilding. I have to respect their opinion, but I just prepare myself to go out there every single day and give this team the best possible chance to win

Hey Manny: You'd be surprised how patient people are when your team plays hard for you day in and day out (see, 2007). The truth is: You lost this team weeks ago, and the proof is out on display on the field every night. For that reason alone: sorry, but we think it's time for change at the top.

The Nats stand behind Acta. But, as one team executive notes, that's partly because he is a "players' manager" who shows patience, seldom shows up veterans in public and, with the exception of one dugout confrontation with Elijah Dukes last season, may never have chewed out any of his current players.

When Boz says, "The Nats stand behind Acta.", who does that include, specifically? Are we talking players? Rizzo? Kasten? The Lerners? Because, if the Nationals as an organization stand behind their manager, you'd think we'd have at least heard a peep to that effect by Silent Stan Kasten or somebody within the organization over the course of the last few weeks while the ship continues to sink. And then there's that little question of that elusive 2010 team option, which the team didn't see any reason to pick up - now, that's standing by your man!

According to a National League source, the Marlins have interest in signing towering right-hander Daniel Cabrera....Marlins pitching coach Mark Wiley worked with Cabrera in Baltimore during his rookie year (2004).

If it happens, then maybe, just maybe, there's a chance the Nationals can steal a win against the Marlins in 2009. Then again, the way this season is shaping up Cabrera would probably throw a perfect game against his former team the first time out.

(Photo by Getty Images. Say it ain't so, Bud!)

According to the NJ Star-Ledger, MLB says last night's Mets/Nats umpiring crew made the right decision to overturn the original call on the field and rule Daniel Murphy's phantom homerun a homerun:

Mike Port, Major League Baseball's vice president of umpiring, said umpires were correct to overturn their initial ruling and deem Daniel Murphy's drive to right field a home run Wednesday night at Citi Field.

"From what the umpires saw in their video review, it was clear and convincing enough for them to change their call," Port wrote in an e-mail to The Star-Ledger.

"Well, something has to be done, because this was supposed to be to help make the right call, help the umpires, and it's supposed to be a clear-cut home run. If it is so inconclusive like the last couple of days, the call shouldn't be changed. Like today, they either need to get better feeds, more feeds, or something. I am not a geometry expert, but that [Subway sign] hangs over the warning track, the upper deck. And there's no explanation for that ball hitting the upper deck, coming down, and then bouncing forward [to] the Modell's sign." (Manny Acta, via Washington Post, 5/28/2009)

(AP Photo)

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

"A lot of people can learn from this guy. He's been doing it for so many years. He's never willing to give into the hitters, and he's not afraid to throw the ball over the plate when he has to."(Manny Acta, via Washington Times, 5/27/2009)

Just for once, wouldn't it be nice to see Manny Acta go ballistic - like, after Dan Iassogna issued a warning when Bergamann threw a curve over the head of Tatis? Mr. Met, it's okay to get tossed every once in a while, just ask Bobby Cox.

Pat Listach does a pretty good Tim Tolman impression: sends Josh Bard home in the 5th on Stammen's hit; inexplicably holds up Justin Maxwell in the 7th.

May 26, 2009

(AP Photo/Paul J. Bereswill. Mr. Met himself reluctantly jogs out to make a half-hearted plea for fan interference on Gary Sheffield's sixth inning HR. After umpires ruled it a HR, Mr. Met forgot to jog back onto the field to dispute the call and get himself thrown out.)

"From the dugout, I didn't think that the ball went out. We have all those rules and the replays, and we have to abide by it. But I just think with the trajectory of the ball, if you have to reach over that railing... I don't think the ball would have gone out of the ballpark. But I've been wrong plenty of times before."(Manny Acta, via Washington Times, 5/26/2009)

Mets 5, Nats 2: ...Many hours later, and Nationals Enquirer staff have finally emerged from reviewing the video evidence and determined that Sheffield's "homerun" had no bearing on the outcome of last night's game.

13 LOB is the story.

Surprise! Manny Acta emerged from the dugout during the game, and not for a pitching change!